Installation and process for the production of synthesis gas comprising a reactor for steam reforming and a reactor for converting CO2 heated by a hot gas

1. An installation for the production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon feedstock, said installation comprising;

at least one reactor for steam reforming,

at least one reactor for converting CO 2 which is equipped with at least one means for feeding effluent obtained from the at least one steam reforming reactor and at least one other means for feeding a gas that comprises carbon dioxide,

means for providing a pressurized heat exchange gas at a pressure of between 0.3 and 1 MPa comprising at least one compression stage for compressing atmospheric air, a first combustion chamber for combusting fuel gas with said atmospheric air, a first expansion turbine for expanding gas from said combustion chamber, and a second combustion chamber for heating gas from said first expansion turbine to produce said pressurized heat exchange gas,

means for heating said at least one reactor for steam reforming or said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 with said pressurized heat exchange gas, or both, and

means for passing said pressurized heat exchange gas from said expansion turbine to said means for heating.

2. An installation according to claim 1 , wherein said means for heating heats said at least one reactor for steam reforming and said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 with said pressurized heat exchange gas.

3. An installation according to claim 2 , further comprising a second expansion turbine for expanding said heat exchange from the last of said reactors.

4. An installation according to claim 3 , further comprising an electric generator driven by said second expansion turbine.

5. An installation according to claim 4 , further comprising a boiler for producing steam, said boiler being in communication with the at least one steam reforming reactor, and means for introducing gases obtained from said second expansion turbine into the boiler.

6. An installation according to claim 2 , further comprising a second expansion turbine for expanding said heat exchange from the last of said reactors.

7. An installation according to claim 6 , further comprising an electric generator driven by said second expansion turbine.

8. An installation according to claim 7 , further comprising a boiler for producing steam, said boiler being in communication with the at least one steam reforming reactor, and means for introducing gases obtained from said second expansion turbine into the boiler.

9. An installation according to claim 1 , wherein the reactors for steam reforming and for converting CO 2 are compact exchanger reactors.

10. An installation according to claim 1 , further comprising means for recycling at least a portion of the effluent obtained from the at least one reactor for converting CO 2 , to said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 .

11. An installation according to claim 1 , further comprising a natural source of CO 2 or another CO 2 -generating process connected to said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 .

12. An installation according to claim 1 , further comprising a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit, means for separating CO 2 at the outlet of said means Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit, and means for delivering CO 2 from said means for separating CO 2 to said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 .

13. An installation according to claim 1 , wherein said reactors are multitubular reactors, in which a catalyst is placed in a fixed bed.

14. An installation according to claim 1 , wherein said reactors are multitubular reactors, in which a catalyst is placed in a fixed bed, and said reactors comprise means for heating the tubes of said reactors are by said heat exchange gas.

15. An installation according to claim 1 , wherein said means for heating heats said at least one reactor for steam reforming.

16. An installation according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one reactor for steam reforming is operated at a temperature of 700-1000° C., said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 is operated at a temperature of 750-1100° C., and said second combustion chamber heats the gas from said first expansion turbine to a temperature of 1000-1300° C.

17. A process for the production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising operating the installation according to claim 1 .

18. A process according to claim 17 , wherein the feedstock circulates in the reactor tubes of said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 at a pressure of between 0.5 and 5 MPa and at a temperature at the outlet of the reactor of between 750 and 1100° C.

19. A process according to claim 17 , wherein the reactors for steam reforming and for converting CO 2 are compact exchanger reactors having heat exchange portions, and the pressurized heat exchange gas is used to feed the exchanger portions of the exchanger reactors.

20. A process according to claim 19 , wherein the gas exiting from the exchanger portions of the last exchanger reactor is sent to a second expansion turbine.

21. A process according to claim 20 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is a natural gas.

22. A process according to claim 21 , wherein the synthesis gas is used in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit.

23. A process according to claim 22 , wherein gas that comprises CO 2 which is feed into the CO 2 conversion reactor is separated at the outlet of said Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit.

24. A process according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one reactor for steam reforming is operated at a temperature of 700-1000° C., said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 is operated at a temperature of 750-1100° C., and said second combustion chamber heats the gas from said first expansion turbine to a temperature of 1000-1300° C.

25. A process according to claim 17 , wherein said reactors are multitubular reactors, in which a catalyst is placed in a fixed bed.

26. A process according to claim 17 , wherein the feedstock circulates in the reactor tubes of said at least one reactor for steam reforming at a pressure of between 1 and 5 MPa and at a temperature of between 750 and 1000° C.

27. A process according to claim 26 , wherein the feedstock circulates in the reactor tubes of said at least one reactor for converting CO 2 at a pressure of between 0.5 and 5 MPa and at a temperature at the outlet of the reactor of between 750 and 1100° C.

28. A process according to claim 17 , wherein means for providing a pressurized heat exchange produces a heat exchange gas which contains about at least 15% by volume of oxygen, at a pressure of about 0.3 to 0.5 MPa and a temperature that is higher than 500° C.